Quilt in a Day Forums

I am trying to make a small quilt with some squares I have. The squares are going to square up to 6 1/2 inches BEFORE sewing. I want to add a dark color around them making the square larger. Think maybe a 9 1/2 inch or 10 1/2 inch block. I know how to do the sq in sq but not how to get the correct measurement for the outside square.

Can someone help me out?
THANKS, Kathy

Kathy, is this what you mean? Here's the measurements - before piecing - for a 10 1/2 finished block:



In general, if you want this type of block, the easiest way to calculate the measurements are:

For B: take the finished block width (without seam allowances), subtract the width of the finished inner square, and divide by two. Then add 1/2 inch for seam allowances, and you have the strip width. The length is the same as the inner square width (incl. seam allowances).

For C: take the finished block width (without seam allowances), subtract the width of the finished inner square, and divide by two. Then add 1/2 inch for seam allowances, and you have the strip width. The length is the same as the width of the finished block (incl. seam allowances).

But, come to think about it, maybe you were rather thinking of the "square in a square" where the inner square is set on point?

Wow thank you so much! I was thinking of setting the square on point but this one looks good. That is why I was having so much trouble trying to figure it out was because I need to cut a square into triangles and didn't know how to measure for them. But let me think about doing it this way.
THANKS,
Kathy

Try looking here also:

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/lessons/ ... m/lessons/